Fire protection.



F. W. POWERS.

FIRE PROTECTION.

Prummel FILED 11:13.25, 1a 11.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. W. POWERS.

FIRE PROTECTION.

APPLIcATxoN FILED rma.25.1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mm WM RC. 4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED W. POWERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE POWERS REGULATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FIRE PROTECTION.

T o all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED IV. Pownns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cl'xicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Protection, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tire protection systems, and is particularly useful in connection with cold storage chambers or vaults.

In the co-pending application of Donald J. Powers, Serial No. 610,956, filed February 25, 1911, a system has been described in which the Ventilating means for a room may bc. automatically stopped, the dampers controlling the inlet and outlet to said room closed, and an alarm sounded when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum. In the case of the application just mentioned, thermcstats are used in the room or chamber and such thermostats operate to positively throw a switch controlling the ventilating means and to positively close the dampers and to sound the alarm.

In my improved construction one or more thermo-release valves are used in the chamber, these valves being connected either direct-ly or through a relay valve with valve motors controlling the Ventilating means, the dampers and the alarm system. "When the temperature in the vicinity of any one of the thermosrelease valves exceeds a predeterminedmaximum, the valve is opened and' the air in the pneumatic system. associated with the valves is released, a suitable restricting valve being provided in the main line in order to prevent too rapid inflow of air through the pipes connected with the thermo-release'valves. It will thus be evident thatif there is an accidental leakage in any of the pipes or failure of the air supply, the Ventilating system will be auto-v matically stopped, the dampers closed and the alarm sounded. This system has many .onts of superiority over that of Donald J.

owers, above described, where the closing means are positively operated by air flowing from the main supply line through the thermostats. In order to make the system quick act-ing I prefer to use a relay valve .so that a slight exhaust of air from any one of the thermo-release valves, which necessarily have small openings, will operate the relay valve to cause a rapid exhaust of air from the pipes connected with the valve motors. It sometimes happens that it is de- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

serial No. 610,955.

sirable to raise the temperature in the chamber without closing the dampers, stopping the motor or operating the alarm, and in order to accomplish this result I provide suitable means by which the thermo-release valves may be cut out of operation and the compressed air or other fluid may thereby be supplied directly to the valve motors. These and other advantages of my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my improvements and in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vertical section through the cold storage vault showing the various tire protection apparatus associated therewith; Fig. 2- is a vertical section through one of the relay valves; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the thermo-release valves; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the valve motors showing the motorcontrolling switch associated therewith; Fig. 5 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the valve motors andthe parts associated therewith for operating a damper. Fig. 7 is a vertical section 'on the line 7%-7 of Fig. 4.

I will irst describe my system as a whole and will then describe the detailed construction of the various parts used therein.

As shown in Fig. 1, a supply pipe 10 leads from a source of compressed fluid, preferably air. A branch pipe 11 leads to the three-way cock 12 which is operated by the handle 13. pipe 13, through various branches, leads to the thermorelease valves 14 whichA are located in the chamber 15, the inlet flue 16 and the outlet flue 17. The main supply pipe 10 is also provided with the branches 18 and 19, @restricting valve 201 being placed in the pp'e 18 for the purpose which will be described hereafter, the pipe 20 communicates with the pipe 21 leading from the three-Way cock 12, and leads to one of the ports in the relay valve 22. The pipe 19, above-mentioned, leads to a second port in the relay valve 22. V

Communicating with the third port in the 'relay valve/*22 is the pipe 23 which through various branches` leadsV to the valve motors,

24 and the valvemotorj 25. The valve motors 24 areffconnectedwith the dampers 25", in thefinlet ,and outlet Vv{lues 16 and' 17,

From this three-way cock the through the Ylevers. 26, links 27* and arms 28. n

The valve motor operates the bellcrank. lever 26, one arm 27 of which is connected]i with the switch blade 28, which serves to close the circuit 29 when the arm 27 is depressed. The circuit 29 leads from battery 30 and has contained therein the alarm bell 31. The second arm 32 of the bellcrank lever 26 operates through link 33 on the disk 34 which isspring-actuated, as will be described hereafter. Then the arm 32 is elevated, the disk 34 is rotated and the switch blades 35 are correspondingly moved to break the circuit 36 which includes the motor 37 and the controller 38. The motor 37 is connected by belt 39 with the fan blower 40 connected with the inlet flue 16. The outlet flue 17 leads to a cooling compartment 41 containing the cooling coil 42 and this compartment is in direct connection with the blower 40 so that it will be evident that the air coming from the vault 15 is cooled in cooling compartment 41 where a great part of its moisture is extracted and is then impelled by means of the blower 40 through the inlet flue 16 from which it again enters the vault 15.

It often happens that it is desirable to raise the temperature in the vault 15, and for this purpose the fire protection system may readily be disconnected by moving the three-way cock 12 so that connection is formed between pipes 11 and 21, and connection is broken between pipes 13 and 21. In this way, the fluid is supplied directly to the relay valve 22 and thermo-release valves 14 are cut out of operation.

In order to indicate whether the system is in operation or not, I provide in connection with the three-way cock 12 the circuit breaker 43 which opens the circuit 44 when connection is formed between pipes 13 and 21, and closes said circuit when connection is formed between the pipes 11 and 21. The circuit 44 leads from the battery 45, and has connected therein the lamp 46, which is lighted when the circuit is closed.

Having thus described my system as a Whole, I will now pass to a description of the various parts.

In Fig. 3 is shown one of the thermorelease valves 14 which is `attached to a suitable base or standard 47. Through the projection 48 of the base 47 passes the port-49 which continues through the front 50 to the valve 51. This valve is normally held against its seat 52 by means of the spring 53 which on one end engages the valve 51 and on the other the cap 54. The opposite end of valve 51 enga-ges the knob or projection 55 on one side ofthe hollow expansion 'disk 56 which is filled with ether orsome other` liquid which'is readily volatile. The hol- 10W disk 56 is supported on bracket57 to V which is attached. the leaf spring 58 whichV serves" to'force the bracket 57 to ,the leftas lshown in Fig. 3. Engaging the portion 59 of the bracket 57 is the screw 60. Engaging the lower projection 61 of bracket 57 is the screw 62. It will be apparent that the position of bracket 57 may be regulated by means of proper adjustment of the screws 60 and 62 coperating with spring 58, thereby causing the position of the hollow disk 56 to be correspondingly varied and the valve 5l to be unseated from its seat 52 at. the desired temperature.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a vertical section through the relay valve 22. In the main frame or body 63 of the relay valve are the ports 64, G5 and 66 which communicate respectively with pipes 20, 23 and 19. The port 64 leads to the chamber 67 across which extends the diaphragm 68 to which is suitably attached the metallic plate 69. Springs 70, attached to the main frame 63 through the blocks 71, engage the metallic plate 69 and tend to force diaphragm V68 toward the left, as represented in Fig. 2. Extending across the annular recess 72 is the diaphragm 73, of rubber or other similar material. Extendmg between plate 69 and diaphragm 73 1s the sleeve 74 having the flanges 75 and 76 at its ends. In the flange 75 is provided the valve seat 77. Fastcned to the plate 69 by means of screws 78 is the spring 79 which engages the end of valve stem 80. Valve stem 80 extends through the sleeve 74 between the inside of which and the valve stem is the annular space 81. The valve stem 80 has near one end the beveled surface 82 normally seated against seat 77 of the sleeve 74. The valve stem 80 on-its opposlte end engages aperture 83 in the frame 63, and the beveled end 84 of the valve stem is adapted to be seated against the valve seat 85 located at the end of port 66. Port 86 extends from valve seat 85 to the chamber 87, located to the left of diaphragm 73, as shown in Fig. 2.

' The valve motor 25, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is of any well known type, as for example, that shown in IV. I). Powerss Iatent 764,819, of July 12, 1904. As previously explained, the 'bell-crank-lever 26, having the arms 27 and 32, is actuated by this valve motor, depression of the arm 27 serving to establish connection between the terminals 89 and 90 of the circuit 29 by means of the switch blade 28. The disk 34, having the pin 34, is connected with arm 32 by means of link 33, having the slot 33. The arm 91 -is pivoted at .92, and is inclosed by spring 90 which forces plate 93 outwardly, this plate 93 engaging the pin or lug 94 and tendin to rotate the disk 34 in av counterclockwise direction. On elevating the arm 32, is rotated in a clockwise directio'n funtil the pin 94 passes the center line-ISQIhe sprlng 90 then becomes eiective and f .lp'ther `rotates, the disk' 34 until pin .34*

comes in contact with the upper end of slot 33, in this way insuring the removal of thc blades 35 from the terminals 95, the lower portions of these terminals being bellied outwardly, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. By the movement of the disk 34 just described it will be evident that the switch blade 35, shown, on the right in Fig. 4, will be moved do\\'n\\ardly out of contact with thc terminals 95, whereas the blade on the left will be moved upwardly out of contact with its corresponding switch blade. ln this way the electrical circuit will be braken at two points. Similarly, when arm 32 is again depressed, disk 34 is rotated 1n a counterclockwise direction until pin 94 again passes the center line, when the spring 90 becomes eti'ective to further rotate disk 344 until pin 348L comes in contact with the lower end of slot 33L and the position shown in Fig. 4 is assumed, the blades 35 being returned by the rotation of the disk 34 to their positions between the terminals 95.

The valve motor 24 shown in Fig. G isof the same general type as the valve motor 25 above. The lever 26 pivoted at 96 is ccnnected with the link 27, which actuates the damper 25a. l

Having thus described the construction -of my system and the various parts used there in, its operation may now be readily understood.

The three-way cock 12 being adjusted as shown in Fig. 1 to establish connection between the pipes 13 and 21, the circuit 44 is opened and the lamp 46 extinguished in order to show that the, system is in operation. Compressed air, which is furnished the system at a predetermined pressure, flows from pipe 10 through the restricting va.lve 2()L 1n pipe 18 to the relay valve through plpe 20, and also through pipe 21 and three-way cock 12 and pipe 13, to the thermo-release valves 14, maintaining in pipe 13 said predetermined pressure. The pressure in pipe 20 is communicated into the chamber 67 of the relay valve, forces the diaphragm G8 and the plate 69 to the right against sprlngs 70 as shown in Fig. 2, carrying with it the sleeve 74, which first seats the beveled surface 82 of valve 80, which is engagedv by spring 79, and then with further movement unseats beveled surface 84 from the seat 85. Compressed air from pipe 10 also ows through pipe 19, portl 66, passage 86, cham ber 87 and port- 65 of the relay valve, through pipe 23 to valve motors 24 and 25, thereby holding dampers 25* in an open position and actuating `valve motor 25 to ralse arm 27 and depress the arm 32 of the bellcrank-lever 26, thereby opening the alarmcircuit 29 and closing the motor circuit 36. The motor 37 being operated; the blower 40 serves to circulate air through the vault 15 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, this air being cooled in the cooling compartment 41. rl`he pressure of air in chanzber (S7 neutralizes the pressure of air in chamber S7, thereby holding diaphragm 73 in the position shown in Fig. The air from pipe 18 which passes through pipe 21 and three-way cock 12 into pipe 13, from the latter enters port 4S) in each of the thermo-release valves 14. Then thc temperature in the vault 15 is normal, the hollow disk 56 is in its collapsed position and valve 51 is forced by spring 53 against its seat 52, thereby preventing the escape ot air from port 49. Let. us assume that the telnperature within the vault 15 rises beyond a predetermined maximum. The hollow disk 56 of any one of the thermo-release valves 14 in the vicinity of which the temperature has risen beyond such maximum expands so that the valve 51 is unseated from its seat 52 and air escapes from port. 49 to the atmosphere. It will now be evident that the pressure in pipe 13 and its branches is lowered more rapidly than air can be supplied through restricting valve 20, corresprndingly lowering the pressure in pipes 21 and 20, port G4 and chamber G7. The result of such lowering of pressure is to cause the diaphragm GS to be moved by springs 70 to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby carrying the sleeve 74 to the left and holding the beveled surface 82 of the valve stem 8O against its seat 77 by the action of spring 79. By this action the beveled end 84 of valve stem 80 is seated against seat 85 and communication between port 66 connected with pipe 19 and port 65 connected with pipe 23 is thereby out off. As the diaphragm 68 continues to move to the left, it will be apparent that the seat 77 of the sleeve 74 will become unseated from the beveled surface 82 of valve stem 80 and air will escape from chamber 87, port 65 and pipes 23 through annular passage 81 to the atmosphere. As the air escapes from chamber 87 the pressure on the two sides of diaphragm 73 is no longer equal, and al preponderance of pressure in chamber G7 results in accelerating the movement of this diaphragm and the sleeve 74 to the left so as to insure a complete unseating of the valve at 82, and therefore a complete and speedy exhaust of the air from the passage 65.

The result of this is that the air under pressure which actuates the valve motors 24 and 25 is discharged and the dampers 25l are closed, the motor circuit 36 is broken and the alarm circuit 29 is closed, thereby ringing the bell 31. It will be clear that an important feature of my invent-ion resides in the use of the relay valve 22, since by use of the latter the air in pipes 23 is much more rapidly discharged than would be possible if thethermo-release valves 14 were directly connected .with the pipes 23. The dampers iso 25a being closed and motor 37 stopped, any fire which may have started in the vault 15 will not spread by blowing air through said vault, while the ringing of the alarln will notify any one in the vicinity of the presence of fire. lVhen the temperature in the Vicinity of all of the thermo-release valves has fallen below the maximum, valves 51 will again become seated and the pressure in pipes 18 and 20 and chamber 67 of the relay valve 22 will again Colne up to the pressure in supply pipe 10 and pressure be restored to the valve motors. If it is desired to cut off the alarm system so that the temperature in vault 15 may be raised without closing dampers 25, stopping motor 37 and ringing alarm bell 3l, the three-way cock 12 is moved so that connection is established between pipes 11 and 21 and broken between pipes 13 and 21, thereby closing circuit 44 and lighting lamp 46. The full pressure of pipe 10 is thus supplied throughpipe 2O to chamber 67 and although the air re1nain ing in pipes 13 may bc yreleased through thermo-release valves 14, it will have no effect on the relay valve 22.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that not only can my system be used in connection with Ventilating rooms and cold storage vaults, but it may also be applied for the protection of large buildings like department stores, where it is the practice in many cases to Ventilate the building by passing currents of air from the ceilings of the different floors into the elevator or other shafts, such shafts being normally closed in vorder to prevent fire starting on one Hoor from spreading to the fioors above by passing through such shafts.

When my system is used dampers may be placed in .the partitions of the elevator shafts, such dampers being normally held open to secure aA thorough ventilation and being provided with valve motor, relay and thermo-release valvel connections in a similar manner to that described above. It will thus be evident that when the temperature rises on any floor a thermo-release valfe will operate through a relay valve and valve motors to close the dampers and the spread of fire to other floors will thus effectually be prevented.

From the foregoing description of one of the many applications for which my'system is adapted, it will be apparent that my system may be used in a wide variety of ways and that the detailed construction of the Various parts may be greatly altered wi'thf out departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

said inlet, a source of compressed fluid, a

ululLCn controlling device associated with said source, a relay valve connected with said controlling device, a fluid operated motor connected with said relay valve, and means connecting said motor with said Ventilating means, whereby when the temperature ex eceds a predetermined maximum in the vicinity of said controlling device, said motorl will be actuated and the operation of said Ventilating means stopped, substantially as described.

2. In a fire protection system, the combination with a room having a Ventilating inlet., of Ventilating means associated with said inlet, a source'of compressed Huid, a controlling device connected with said source, a relay valve connected with said controlling device and with said source, a motor connected with said relay valve and through the latter with said source, and means connecting said motor with said Ventilating means, whereby when the temperature in the vicinity of said controlling device exceeds a predetermined maximum the connection between said motor and said snurce is interrupted and the pressure of the fiuid supplying said motor is decreased, thereby actuating said motor and stopping the operation of said Ventilating means, substantlally as described.

3. In a fire protection system, the combination with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, of ventilatin means associated with said inlet, a source o compressed fluid, a thermo-release Valve connected with said source of fluid, a relay Valve connected with said thermo-release Valve, restricting means in the connection of said thermo-release valve with said source, auxiliary means connecting said relay valve with said source, a motor connected with said relay Valve and therethrough with said source, means connecting said relay valve with said ventilating means whereby when the temperature in the Vicinity of said thermo-release Valve exceeds a predetermined maximum the Huid from said source will escape through said -valve more rapidly than it can be supplied through said restricting valve, thereby' operating said relay valve to break the connection between said source and said motor and causing a reduction of pressure at said mot'or by which the motor is actuated and the operation of said Ventilating means stopped, substantially as described.

4. In a`fire protection system, the combination with a' 'chamber having a ventilating inlet anda Ventilating outlet therefor, of means for blowing'air'through said inlet, dampers in said'inlet'and said outlet, and pneumatically controlled means for controlling the operation of said dempers and said blowing means, a thermo-release valve in sa1d chamber, saidvalve being connected with said Vpneumatically opera-tied controlling' means, whereby when the temperature. in said chamber exceeds a predetern'iined maximum said controlling' means will be operated to stop said blowing means and close the dampers in said inlet and outlet, substantially as described.

5. In a tire protection system, the combination with a chamber having a ventilatinginlet and a velitilating outlet therefor. of means for blowing air throijigh said inlet. dampers in said inlet and said outlet, and pneuniatically controlled means for controlling the operation et' said dainpers and said blowing. means, a pll'ui'ality ot thermorelease valves in said chamber and in said inlet and outlet, whereby when the temperature in the vicinity of any ot said valves exceeds a predetermined maximum said controlling means will be operated to stop said blowing means and close the dampers in said inlet and outlet, substantially as described.

G. In a fire protection system, the combination of a room to be protected, a source of compressed fluid, a thern'io-release valve connected with said source, a pneumatically operated motor connected with said thermorelease valve, an alarm circuit controlled by said motor, whereby `when thetei'nperature in the vicinity ot said therme-release valve exceeds a predetermined maxin'ium the. niotor will be operated and the alarm circuit closed, substantially as described.

7. In a lire protection system, the combination of a room, Ventilating means associated with said room, pneumatically operated means for stopping the operation oi said ventilatingmeans when the temperature in said room exceeds a predetermined maximum, and means for disconnecting said tire protection system, whereby the temperature in 'said'room may be raised beyond said maximum without stopping said ventilating means, substantially as described.

S. In a fire protection system, the combination of a room, ventilating means associated with said room, pneumatically operated means for stopping the operation of said Ventilating means when the temperature in said room exceeds a predetermined maximum, means for disconnecting said tire protection system, whereby the temperatuie inmsaidmroom may be raised beyond said maximum without stopping said ventilating means," "andn 'electrically controlled means for indicating wliet-herwtlie fire protection system is in or out lof service, substantially as described.

9. In a fire protection system, the combination of a room, Ventilating means for said room, a source of compressed fluid, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for controllingl device in said room, said controlling device connected with said source of fluid, a relay valve connected with said controlling device and with said source of conlprcssed lluid. a tluid operated motor connected with said relay valve, means connecting said motor with said ii'cntilating means whereby said motor will be actuated to stop said ventilating` means when the temperature in the vicinity of said controllingdevice exceeds a predetermined maximum, and means for breaking` the connection between said controlling` device and said relay valve and estz'iblishing connection between said source and said relay valve, whereby the operation of said motor is rendered indepemlent of the temperature in said room, substantially as described.

l0. In a tire protection s vstenn'the combination with Ventilating means, of a source of compressed fluid, and heat-operated means connected with said source ot fluid, whereby the pressure of the same is decreased and the operation of said ventilating means is stopped when the tempe `atiu'e exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

ll. In a fire protection system, the combination with ventilating' means. of a damper associated with said Ventilating means, a source ot' compressed fluid, and heat-operated means connected with said source 0f Huid, whereby the pressure of the latter is decreased and the operation of said ventilating means is stopped, and said damper .is closed when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum. substantially as described. l

1Q. In a lire protection system, the combination with a room having a ventilating inlet thereto, of mechanism for blowing air through said inlet', a damper for closing said inlet, and thern'io-release means for simultaneously stopping said blowing mechanism and closing said damper when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

13. In a tire protection system, the combination with a room having an inlet thereto, of means for blowing air through said inlet, and a plurality of theri'no-release valves associated with said blowing means, whereby when the temperature in the vicinity of any of said valves exceeds a predetermined maximum the operation of said blowing means will be stopped, substantially as described.

FRED 117. POWERS. Witnesses W. J. REINEKE, S. D. BERG.

ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, Il. C. 

